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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thottathellam Pennagattum

From Veedu Manaivi Makkal · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Veedu Manaivi Makkal1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………….
Male
Thottathellaam pennaagattumMay whatever I touch turn into a woman,
En thottamellaam ponnaagattumMay my entire garden turn into gold,
Devathaigal kondaadattumLet the angels celebrate,
Ilanth thendral angae paai podattum…Let the gentle breeze lay down a mat there...
Siththam pokku sivan pokkuAs the mind dictates, so moves Lord Shiva,
Endra vaakku enthan vaakkuThat proverb is my personal vow!
Male
Thottathellaam pennaagattumMay whatever I touch turn into a woman,
En thottamellaam ponnaagattumMay my entire garden turn into gold,
Devathaigal kondaadattumLet the angels celebrate,
Ilanth thendral angae paai podattum haan…Let the gentle breeze lay down a mat there, haan...
Chorus
Siththam pokku sivan pokkuAs the mind dictates, so moves Lord Shiva,
Endra vaakku enthan vaakkuThat proverb is my personal vow!
Male
Thottathellaam pennaagattumMay whatever I touch turn into a woman,
En thottamellaam ponnaagattum aahaan…May my entire garden turn into gold, aahaan...
Male
Vaanum mannum kaattrumThe sky, the earth, and the wind,
Ennai vaazha sonnathuAll told me to live fully,
Ullaasa vaazhththu sonnathuThey wished me joy and happiness,
Ilamai innum konjam endruSaying youth is still left in me,
Echchariththu en perai uchchriththathuThey cautioned me and whispered my name,
Male
Sorkkaththin saavi enthan kaiyil unduThe key to heaven is right in my hands,
Kaanaatha inbam kaana vendum indruI must experience unseen pleasure today,
Ini varuvathu valarpiraiWhat comes next is a waxing moon,
Iravukku enna varaimuraiWhat restrictions can there be for the night?
Chorus
Ini varuvathu valarpiraiWhat comes next is a waxing moon,
Male :HaanMale: Haan,
Chorus :Iravukku enna varaimuraiChorus: What restrictions can there be for the night?
Male
Ippothu en kattilRight now on my bed,
Inba thenmazhaiA sweet rain of bliss falls,
Male
Naan thottathellaam pennaagattumMay whatever I touch turn into a woman,
En thottamellaam ponnaagattumMay my entire garden turn into gold,
Devathaigal kondaadattumLet the angels celebrate,
Ilanth thendral angae paai podattum everybody…..Let the gentle breeze lay down a mat there, everybody...
Chorus
Siththam pokku sivan pokkuAs the mind dictates, so moves Lord Shiva,
Endra vaakku enthan vaakkuThat proverb is my personal vow!
Male
Thottathellaam pennaagattumMay whatever I touch turn into a woman,
En thottamellaam ponnaagattum…..May my entire garden turn into gold...
Chorus
……………………
Male
Kakkaiyodu kuyilangal otti vaazhumaaWould cuckoos ever live together with crows?
En pola vetti vaahumaaCan anyone live as carefree and victorious as me?
Thanga enna piththalaikku kappam kattumaaDoes pure gold ever pay tribute to brass?
Idhenna ungal sattammaWhat kind of societal rule is this?
Male
Naan thedum penno aakki poda allaThe woman I seek is not just meant to cook,
En paadal kettu aada vendum mellaShe should dance gently to my song,
Pazhangathai adhu mudiyattumLet the old stories come to an end,
Pudhu yugam ini vidiyattumLet a new era dawn from now on,
Chorus
Pazhangathai adhu mudiyattumLet the old stories come to an end,
Male :HaanMale: Haan,
Chorus :Pudhu yugam ini vidiyattumChorus: Let a new era dawn from now on,
Male
Haei eppothu maaraatha vaazhkkai yaedhadaaHey, show me a life that never changes!
Male
Naan thottathellaam pennaagattumMay whatever I touch turn into a woman,
AagattumLet it be so!
En thottamellaam ponnaagattumMay my entire garden turn into gold,
AagattumLet it be so!
Devathaigal kondaadattum hahaanLet the angels celebrate, hahaan,
Ilanth thendral angae paai podattum….Let the gentle breeze lay down a mat there...
Chorus
Siththam pokku sivan pokkuAs the mind dictates, so moves Lord Shiva,
Endra vaakku enthan vaakkuThat proverb is my personal vow!
Male :Ho ho hoMale: Ho ho ho

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song portrays a carefree, modern, and hedonistic lifestyle driven by a desire for pleasure, self-expression, and freedom from traditional bounds. The protagonist declares his philosophy as 'Siththam pokku Sivan pokku'—living strictly by his own heart's dictates—and imagines a world filled with gold, joy, and beauty. He rejects conservative gender roles, asserting that a woman should be a partner in art and joy rather than confined to domestic chores.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Thottathellaam pennaagattum / En thottamellaam ponnaagattum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent lines for rhythmic flow (e.g., 'Thottathellaam' and 'Thottamellaam').

Rhetorical Question

Kakkaiyodu kuyilangal otti vaazhumaa

Using questions to challenge societal norms and assert superiority (crows vs. cuckoos, gold vs. brass).

Metaphor

Inba thenmazhai

Comparing blissful pleasure to a sweet rain of honey falling on a bed.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Veedu Manaivi Makkal' (1988) is a Tamil family drama film directed by T. P. Gajendran, featuring music composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

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